The University at Buffalo Department of Library and Information Studies – Official Student Blog

Tag Archives: networking

LIS GSA, as part of their mandate to act as advocates for the student body, held an open forum where students could express their ideas about the accreditation process, curriculum and anything else on their minds. The meeting was moderated by a SILS alum, Karen Reczek.
The forum was productive and LIS GSA would like to thank all students who participated in the forum and emailed us with questions and suggestions.
The next step will be to take these ideas and create a document. The document will be presented to the faculty to which we are asking for a written response. We have included our goals and outcomes for your perusal. We will keep you updated.

LIS GSA Open Forum Goals
LIS GSA seeks to create a safe space in which students can express their ideas about: the Department’s continued growth, the involvement with the Graduate School of Education, and the American Library Association Accreditation process. LIS GSA will create this space to ensure that students’ opinions, ideas, and concerns are heard and formerly recorded.

Expected Outcomes
LIS GSA will create a working document from these discussions. This document will contain student opinions as well as constructive ideas of how to create and implement these programs and suggestions. LIS GSA wil submit this document to LIS Council and request a written reply which should include identified next steps such as any recommended actions or other response needed.

I don’t get out much anymore. I’m not one of those people who choose to not go anywhere. When your life revolves around school, like mine currently does, and 75% of your classes are online, your options for human contact are restricted. I’m stuck at a computer staring at a UBLearns screen for what has to be the zillionth time in the course of ten semesters at UB, and I want out.

It’s easy to see the benefits of an online learning community in a constantly changing technological wasteland, but it has ramifications. I think I’m slowly forgetting how to interact with people and how to participate in class without clicking a mouse. I’m going to be one of those people who run around the Lockwood basement for fun. Oh, wait, too late. Remember the last time I had to do some routine homework? I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, especially if the cage monsters try to eat you.

What can I do with myself? My only friends are the MARC websites that tell me what I’m doing wrong, the discussion boards, and the 568 wiki. Whatever will I do for human contact? How am I supposed to function in a society that expects more from me than “yes, you need an MLS to be a librarian” or “did you do your discussion posts this week?”

I’m slowly turning into the MLS-Bot. How should I fix this? Reading the books in the lounge won’t help because no one wants an outdated robot. I’m going to need a new set of catchphrases and programming that doesn’t have a MARC listing. Anyone up for the challenge can find me on UBLearns at all hours of the night. I’ll need to be taken outside immediately to see if it worked. If not, then it may be necessary to completely revamp my Plan of Study.

We are very excited to announce the creation of the UB SLMS Student Network! The SSN functions primarily to connect SLMS students with their peers so that we have a place to go with our 524 concerns or 568 questions, as well as anything else!

We also hope to continue reaching out to the other departments in the GSE, and are pleased to be working with the Simmons-Elliott Educational Center on their SDAR outreach program.

Please sign up online at ubssnet.ning.com!

UB SSN is also your connection to SLAWNY, our local chapter of NYLA-SLMS. We are looking forward to working with SLAWNY to establish the first professional-student mentorship program! SLAWNY volunteer members have agreed to mentor students as part of our student SLAWNY membership. You must be a member of SLAWNY to get a mentor, and they will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, so sign up today!

SLAWNY will be hosting their annual professional development workshop on March 21st. This year’s special guest is Stephen Krashen, linguistics expert and author of numerous books. He will talk about how to get students reading. The cost for the event is $20. More information is available at http://www.slawny.bfn.org.